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Steel shot

pphillips
I have a Western Field 12 gauge pump chambered for 3" magnum is it safe to use steel shot in it??? A visit to the local walMart found only steel in the larger shot sizes.
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13 comments

Date Votes
  • pphillips
    does it hurt to shot steel shot in bbl that are not made for it and what kind of damage does it do.
    thanks
    taz
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  • Bert H.
    Yes[B)]

    Bert H.

    Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
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  • only winchesters
    pphillips: Bert is correct over time it will most definately ruin the barrel. If it's a full choke, and you start shooting bb,bbb, or t shot through it it will open the full choke right up to a loose Modified. If you have an O/U or SxS it could cause barrel separation at the muzzle. If you can't shoot lead, switch, to Bismuth or Tungsten/Matris shot that is the other non-toxic shot available for older shotguns. If you don't have a shotgun with screw in chokes, don't shoot steel, rule of thumb. Regards Dave
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  • duckhunter
    NO, BEEN SHOOTING STEEL SINCE 1978 IN THE WINCHESTER MODEL 12'S AND A-5 BROWNINGS ALSO THE OLD STYLE 870 REMINGTON WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. THE PLASTIC SHOT CUPS BEING USE WILL PROTECT YOU BARRELS. GOOD LUCK,

    I WOULD RATHER BE DUCK HUNTING.
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  • Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by duckhunter
    NO, BEEN SHOOTING STEEL SINCE 1978 IN THE WINCHESTER MODEL 12'S AND A-5 BROWNINGS ALSO THE OLD STYLE 870 REMINGTON WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. THE PLASTIC SHOT CUPS BEING USE WILL PROTECT YOU BARRELS. GOOD LUCK,

    I WOULD RATHER BE DUCK HUNTING.


    duckhunter... to each his own, and I could care less what you personally shoot in your own guns. However, you are a first class fool if you do not believe that shooting steel shot in those older Winchester or Browning shotguns is detrimental to them[V]

    To pphillips... please disregard the information posted by "duckhunter". If you have doubts about what Dave (only winchesters) and I have stated, please go visit your local gunshop and ask them the same question.

    Bert H.

    Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
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  • duckhunter
    WHO"S THE FOOL??????????

    I WOULD RATHER BE DUCK HUNTING.
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  • Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by duckhunter
    WHO"S THE FOOL??????????

    I WOULD RATHER BE DUCK HUNTING.


    You answered your own question quite well daffyhunter.

    However, just to ensure that anyone else reading this exchange who has any questions, I suggest clicking on the following link and read the information given - http://www.ardmoreite.com/stories/120901/spo_brad.shtml

    Here is another link - http://w3.agsfoundation.com/safety/p_shotguns.html

    And another - http://www.mossberg.com/faqs.htm#shootsteelshot

    And another - http://www.chisholm.co.nz/steel-lead.htm

    Hey daffyhunter... are you starting to get the picture, or should I keep going with this[?][}:)]

    Bert H.

    Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
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  • Alpine
    If you do shoot steel shot thru an older shotgun you will notice a bulge on the outside at the choke area. I have personally seen several that the owner hadn't even noticed. The bulge takes out the choke so the barrel in now a cylinder choke instead of full.

    avatar.jpg

    "If you ain't got pictures, I wasn't there."
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  • only winchesters
    Good evening all. Bottom line steel shot will not compress like lead shot, (old bird hunters remember, flattened lead shot). When steel shot is going through the choke area of an older shotgun, it's like using a "drop hammer" on it. (This is an old metal manufacturing method to form metal) Eventually these old guns will have the choke open up. The typical surface finish on a shotgun bore runs from an 8 RMS to a 16 RMS with the 8 RMS being very fine. Steel shot will also cause wear of the metal it will become rough. When I use to shoot steel, ( I have switched to Bismuth) I noticed my favorite choke tube felt funny, took it to work and measured the surface finish, it came in at about 71 RMS. Duckhunter measure the choke of any old gun you have been shooting with steel, especially the full Choke guns, if you have put more than 500 rounds through it, and it hasn't opened up, I'd be surprized. (Use a standard dime on a 12ga. it shouldn't enter the barrel)

    Now Bert, don't you go bad mouthing us duck hunters!! LOL

    Regards Dave
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  • dakotashooter2
    Ok guys back up a minute and think. Bert you listed 4 links that talked about the subject. Only one (1) specifically said not to use it in older barrels. The others all said not to use it in older barrels with full choke.Several other have referenced the choke when saying this is a bad idea. That leads me to believe that the most vulnerable part of the older barrels is the choke. If I was going to do this I would open the choke to improved. In many guns even a modified choke(=full steel) is to much constriction. I would not doubt that some of the early steel loads may have scored some of the old guns but steel loads have come a ways since then.
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  • Bert H.
    quote: Now Bert, don't you go bad mouthing us duck hunters!! LOL

    Regards Dave


    Hello Dave... I wasn't bad mouthing all duckhunters... just ONE in particular[}:)]

    I do not believe that it takes anywhere near 500 shots to cause damage to the barrel & choke. I saw an early 1960s Browning A5 12 gauge come into a good friends shop a few years ago that had a bulged (ringed) barrel, and the choke had opened a long way from the "Full" choke it originally was. The young fellow (he had recently inherited the gun from his Grandfather) was absolutely beside himself for having ruined that barrel, and he was adamant that he had shot less than two boxes of shells through it. He had unfortunately taken advice from one of his friends who (like daffyhunter) did not have a clue as to what he was talking about. Fortunately, my friend was able to cut the ruined part of the barrel off, and threaded it for a screw-in choke. He saved it as a shooter, but it was ruined as a collectable gun.

    What irritates me the most is people like "daffyhunter" who intentionally post false information on an "experts" forum, and it is information that could potentially cause physical harm to a gun or the shooter[:(!][:(!][:(!]. Listen up daffyhunter... I am specifically talking about you! You have ZERO credibility with me from this point onwards.

    Bert H.

    Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
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  • only winchesters
    Like I said earlier Bert, if you shoot the big stuff, (steel goose loads) BB, BBB, T shot sizes, you will open a barrel up fast. If you use the standard "duck" sizes such as 2,3,4 shot it will take longer to open up the barrel. But it will open up.

    I was just teasing earlier!! LOL

    Regards everone

    Dave
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  • Bert H.
    quote: I was just teasing earlier!! LOL

    Regards everyone

    Dave


    Dave... I knew that[:D] You and I think too much alike sometimes[^]

    Bert H.

    Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
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